A newborn doesn't pass a hearing screening. A veteran can't escape the ringing in his ears. A grandmother quietly stops joining family conversations. In each moment, an audiologist can change what happens next.

The audiologist profession is often lesser known than the speech language pathologist profession within communication sciences and disorders, but is just as important in people’s lives and communication. This guide on how to become an audiologist walks you through every step. You'll also learn how long it takes, how much audiologists make, and where audiologists work.

What Does an Audiologist Do?

Audiologists are healthcare professionals who diagnose, manage, and treat hearing and balance disorders. They care for patients of all ages, from newborns to older adults. Hearing loss affects how people learn, work, and connect with the people they love. That's why early diagnosis and treatment matter so much.

On any given day, an audiologist might be:

  • Testing hearing with behavioral and objective assessments
  • Evaluating, fitting, and adjusting hearing aids
  • Activating and programming a cochlear implant
  • Assessing and managing tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
  • Diagnosing balance problems and guiding rehabilitation
  • Teaching communities about hearing conservation and protection

Audiologists rarely work alone. They often partner with a speech language pathologist to support children with communication challenges. Together, they may evaluate conditions such as auditory processing disorder. Learn how these fields connect in What Does a Speech Language Pathologist Do?

Skills That Help Audiologists Succeed

Great audiologists blend science with compassion. Empathy helps you support patients through life-changing diagnoses. Attention to detail keeps test results accurate. Strong communication skills help you explain complex findings in plain language.

How to Become an Audiologist in 5 Steps

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Your journey starts with a bachelor's degree. There's no single required major. Many students choose communication sciences and disorders, biology, physics, or psychology. Communication sciences offers an especially strong foundation in how speech and hearing work.

Most audiology programs also require prerequisite courses. These often include biological science, physical science, social science, and statistics. Studied something else? Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions offers many prerequisites online, including Introduction to Audiology.

To stand out, look for experiences beyond the classroom. Shadow an audiologist, volunteer at a hearing screening, or join a research lab. Student groups, like the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA), can also connect you with mentors.

Step 2: Enroll in a Doctor of Audiology Program & Build Specialized Knowledge

AuD coursework builds the expertise you'll use every day. Most programs cover four core areas:

  • Hearing science: acoustics, psychoacoustics, and anatomy and physiology of the auditory system
  • Diagnosis and treatment: assessment and (re)habilitation of auditory and balance disorders, plus tinnitus management
  • Technology: amplification, including hearing aids and cochlear implants
  • Patient and community care: counseling, educational audiology, and industrial hearing conservation

Want a closer look? Explore the Mass General Brigham University AuD curriculum.

Step 4: Gain Clinical Experience

Clinical experience is the heart of audiology education. Throughout your program, you'll complete supervised clinical practicums. You'll apply what you learn in class to real patients in real settings.

Most programs end with a full-time externship year. Externships expose you to new patient populations, settings, and specialties. They also sharpen your clinical skills and confidence. Many students receive job offers from their externship sites.

Step 5: Pass the Praxis Exam and Get Licensed

All states require audiologists to be licensed. Requirements vary by state but typically include:

  • Graduating from an accredited AuD program
  • Completing a minimum number of supervised clinical hours
  • Passing a national exam, such as the Praxis exam in audiology

The Praxis exam measures the knowledge you need for professional practice. Many audiologists also earn certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This credential is the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A). Check your state's rules early using ASHA's state licensure resources.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Audiologist?

So, how long does it take to become an audiologist? For most people, it's about eight years after high school. That includes a four-year bachelor's degree and a four-year AuD program. Accelerated programs like the one offered by MGBU can shorten that timeline by a full year.

Is it hard to become an audiologist? The path is rigorous, but it's very achievable with planning. Audiologists don't attend medical school. They earn a clinical doctorate, so many use the title "Dr." with patients.

How Much Do Audiologists Make?

How much do audiologists make? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage was $92,120 in May 2024.

Pay also grows with experience. ASHA data show a median of $85,000 for audiologists with one to three years of experience. Audiologists with 34 to 36 years of experience earn a median of $110,000. Work setting, location, and specialty certifications also affect salary.

The job outlook is strong, too. BLS projects employment will grow 9 percent over the 2024–2034 decade, much faster than average. An aging population and earlier detection of hearing loss in infants help drive this demand.

Specialize and Keep Learning

Many audiologists specialize in areas such as pediatric audiology, cochlear implants, or balance disorders. Specialty certifications can showcase advanced expertise. Examples include the Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC) and the Cochlear Implant Specialty Certification (CISC).

Continued education keeps your skills current as technology evolves. Hearing aids are now sold over the counter, and implant technology keeps advancing. Workshops, seminars, and courses help you stay ahead. Most states also require continuing education to renew your license.

Train With Mass General Brigham University

Our accelerated Doctor of Audiology program takes three years, or nine continuous semesters. That means you can start your career a full year sooner than in traditional four-year programs.  

You'll train in person at Mass Eye and Ear, part of the Mass General Brigham system. In year one, you'll build 16 core clinical skills alongside Mass Eye and Ear audiologists. In year two, you'll train with up to three clinical partners. These include Boston Children's Hospital and the VA Medical Center.

Your third year is a full-time clinical externship. You'll also learn alongside speech language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy students. This interprofessional approach mirrors how healthcare teams work in the real world. All our graduates have found employment within one month of applying to jobs.

Your Next Step Toward a Career in Audiology

Becoming an audiologist takes dedication, rigorous education, and a passion for helping people. Start with a strong bachelor's degree, then choose an accredited AuD program. Gain clinical experience, earn your license, and keep learning throughout your career.

Ready to begin? Applications for our Summer 2027 cohort are due January 15, 2027.